SYNOPSIS: A medical engineer and an astronaut work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space.

REVIEW: Alfonso Cuaron, director of Children of Men and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, writes a tale with co-writer Jonas Cuaron about the vastness of space and the perils of being alone.

Aningaaq (Orto Ignatiussen) Above Mother Earth in the near reaches of space mission specialist Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock, The Heat) and space shuttle commander Matt Kowalski (George Clooney, The Descendants) work on replacing and updating components to the Hubble telescope. When Mission Control (Ed Harris, Pain and Gain) relays to the space shuttle Explorer that the Russians had sent a missile against one of their own spy satellites, raising concerns that debris from the explosion may interfere with their mission. When the debris destroys other satellites, more debris causes the threat to becomes critically imminent. Stone is blown off the telescoping arm of the space shuttle. The commander must save Stone and come up with a way to make their way to the International Space Station in order to use one of their escape pods. Fighting against time and a constant barrage of streaking metal, the pair must do everything they can do to survive.

Gravity is a beautifully crafted film, with stunning special-effects, dazzling cinematic shots and a intriguing story. Shown in IMAX 3-D, the film leaps off the silver screen as man rages against the heavens and the advances of his own technology. Alternating between human insignificance, the vastness of space and a claustrophobic confines due to technology, Gravity is true to its namesake as the situation soon becomes untenable for the mission specialist and commander. Every nut, bolt and solar panel is gorgeously rendered and destroyed in grand fashion - as satellites and space stations collide in an ever decreasing trajectory. Not is seam or air hatch is out of place.

Coupled with astounding special-effects and beautiful camerawork, Gravity has a simple but elegant storyline. Similar to run Howard's Apollo 13 with Tom Hanks and Kevin Bacon, Gravity has the impossible task of returning humans back from the stars. Every movements is an efforts, every decision critical and with consequence. With Bullock's Ryan Stone, there seems to be an endless list of improbable tasks to complete in order to space walk one step closer to earth.

George Clooney and Sandra Bullock, along with the voice of Ed Harris, seem to be the only distracting spot for me in this film. While both are phenomenal actors, their sheer star power are a detriment. As beautifully crafted a story as Gravity is, Alfonso Cuaron could have cast lesser-known talent for as good a result. Both do their best, but they both fall into familiar trappings.Gravity is a fast-paced and beautiful film, tied in with an intense story of survival. Cuaron does use some symbolic cinematography to represent life and rebirth, but most of the story is straight on drama and gripping action. Gravity may be a simple tale without all the summer blockbuster formula, but it does prove that sometimes mans pursuit to the heavens should be left to the gods.